Poots Suspends Council Transition Committees

Some £1.65m in annual funding for committees set up to prepare for a reduction in the number of councils has been shut off.

The news comes after the proposal to change the current 26 councils into just 11 amalgamated ones following a local government election in May next year was shelved.

The failure of the Stormont Executive to agree on the plan earlier this year means the target date has been put back indefinitely.

Environment Minister Edwin Poots (pictured) said funding for the 11 "transition committees" could not be justified in the current climate as each cost £150,000 a year and the funding will be suspended from 31 October.

Mr Poots said that from recent meetings with local government representatives, he had decided that there was no "significant role" for the committees.

The committees were set up by the Department of the Environment to work towards setting up the new 11 council model.

However, with the May 2011 deadline no longer achievable and in the absence of clarity on reframing the timetable, the Minister has decided to suspend the funding.

Minister Poots said: "In recent months I have been working with the local government sector to consider how councils might collaborate to achieve significant efficiencies and create savings so ratepayers will see real value for money.

"From my meetings with local government representatives, it is now apparent that no significant role is envisaged for Transition Committees in their collaboration agenda.

"Many of the Transition Committees no longer meet as they consider that they can carry out no useful function towards reorganisation," he said.

"In light of the current budgetary pressures, it is hard to justify my Department's continued funding of Transition Committees. I have therefore decided to suspend the funding from 31 October 2010. Some of these Committees may wish to continue to meet but this will have to be on a voluntary basis," he explained.

"However, I remain committed to reforming local government. Once we have determined a new delivery timetable, it can be decided what role Transition Committees will play in delivering the reform programme.

"It is also difficult where there is a lack of clarity on the way forward, to continue with the Strategic Leadership Board and the Policy Development Panels.

"Indeed, the work of the Panels has already finished. It is my intention therefore to stand down these bodies. The reorganisation architecture can be resurrected in the future as and when necessary."

He also noted that funding for posts as Change Managers, appointed locally by Councils and currently working within Transition Committees, will continue until March 31, 2011.

Mr Poots added: "I thank the Change Managers for their work to date and would ask that they continue to identify and deliver efficiency savings within their council groupings."

(BMcC/GK)